This review of the Croatia’s Completion and Learning Review (CLR) of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) covers the CPS period, FY14-FY17, and the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) of 2016.The World Bank Group program had three focus areas: (i) promoting fiscal consolidation, (ii) improving competitiveness to spur growth, and (iii) maximizing the benefits of EU membership.
... Exibir mais + These were broadly congruent with the government’s 2013 Economic Program, which covered fiscal consolidation with a particular focus on pension reform and rationalizing hospitals; growth and competitiveness through a sustainable development strategy based on the knowledge economy; and absorption of EU funds available to Croatia. The CPS addressed key challenges facing the country, including EU accession, and was congruent with the Government’s 2013 Economic Program and aligned with the WBG’s twin goals. The analytical work undertaken by the World Bank contributed to the 2018 Systematic Country Diagnostic Study (SCD), and addressed fiscal issues as well as issues in the justice system, energy, and smart specialization. Portfolio performance was comparable with the ECA region and the World Bank, but some interventions were affected by changes in government priorities.
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Croatia is a small, open economy and the latest entrant to the European Union. After being severely affected by the global financial crisis, Croatia’s economy is recovering, with growth averaging around three percent over the last four years.
... Exibir mais + The over-arching objective of the WBG Country Partnership Framework (CPF) is to play a catalytic role in supporting institutional improvements needed for a sustainable trajectory towards EU convergence and eventual IBRD graduation. This CPF would support interventions to address Croatia’s climate vulnerabilities and protect its natural environment. This would be achieved primarily through ongoing and prospective advisory services, but also through potential WBG investments, including from IFC, and potentially from MIGA guarantees. The CPF will cover a five-year period (FY19-24) with one Progress and Learning Review (PLR). This approach includes a relatively narrow results framework that builds primarily on the ongoing portfolio and the nature of RAS-financed engagements. The PLR would provide an update on key areas of institutional weakness, including to measure progress against EU peers where benchmarks are available. While the WBG may contribute only modestly to these outcomes, it expects to play a catalytic role, and monitoring outcome indicators which are comparable across the EU will be particularly important to track progress in the areas on the critical path to accelerate convergence.
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Cities along the Adriatic coastline of Croatia boast a sizable and fast-growing tourism industry that is one of the key pillars of the country’s economy.
... Exibir mais + However, the practice of discharging untreated sewage directly into the Adriatic Sea resulted in the serious threat of environmental degradation to coastal waters, in addition to constraining tourism-based economic development. From the project’s start in 2009 to the project closure in 2015, the Coastal Cities Pollution Control Project 2 (CCPCP) supported the elimination of untreated wastewater discharge, piloted innovative wastewater treatment solutions, engaged in institutional strengthening, and improved seawater quality monitoring in the coastal area.
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